"Yabloko" observer loses consciousness during detention in St. Petersburg

A Yabloko election observer in St. Petersburg lost consciousness during his detention at a polling station, according to the party’s press service.

The observer, identified as Rostislav, represents Olga Yurkevich, a Yabloko candidate in State Duma Constituency No. 215, the Northwestern electoral district.

Rostislav was detained in the morning at polling station No. 1919. According to Yabloko, the chair of the polling station commission accused him of attempting to “disrupt the election” and called the police.

Police officers used force while detaining the observer, causing him to lose consciousness, according to the party. It was not immediately known whether he received timely medical assistance.

Rostislav was subsequently taken to Police Department No. 86. Authorities accuse him of disobeying police orders under Article 19.3 of Russia’s Code of Administrative Offences.

Yabloko said earlier that the observer had come to the polling station to monitor the voting process. The party has reported a number of other cases involving difficulties for its observers at polling stations during the three-day elections.

By Tamilla Hasanova